Aid cuts, misinformation threaten child vaccination progress: UN
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Aid cuts, misinformation threaten child vaccination progress: UN
Agence France-Presse
Published Jul 15, 2025 09:06 AM PHT
A child is being vaccinated with an oral anti-polio and measles vaccine at Barangay 183 in Villamor Pasay City, during the Department of Health’s “Chikiting Ligtas” Vaccine Supplemental Immunization on May 2, 2023.Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File
A child is being vaccinated with an oral anti-polio and measles vaccine at Barangay 183 in Villamor Pasay City, during the Department of Health’s “Chikiting Ligtas” Vaccine Supplemental Immunization on May 2, 2023.Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/FileGENEVA, Switzerland — Global infant vaccination levels have stabilized after shrinking during the Covid crisis, the UN said Tuesday, but it warned that misinformation and drastic aid cuts were deepening dangerous coverage gaps and putting millions at risk.
GENEVA, Switzerland — Global infant vaccination levels have stabilized after shrinking during the Covid crisis, the UN said Tuesday, but it warned that misinformation and drastic aid cuts were deepening dangerous coverage gaps and putting millions at risk.
In 2024, 85 percent of infants globally, or 109 million, had received three doses of the vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP), with the third dose serving as a key marker for global immunization coverage, according to data published by the UN health and children's agencies.
In 2024, 85 percent of infants globally, or 109 million, had received three doses of the vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP), with the third dose serving as a key marker for global immunization coverage, according to data published by the UN health and children's agencies.
That marked an increase of one percentage point and a million more children covered than a year earlier, in what the agencies described as "modest" gains.
That marked an increase of one percentage point and a million more children covered than a year earlier, in what the agencies described as "modest" gains.
At the same time, nearly 20 million infants missed at least one of their DTP doses last year, including 14.3 million so-called zero-dose" children who never received a single shot.
At the same time, nearly 20 million infants missed at least one of their DTP doses last year, including 14.3 million so-called zero-dose" children who never received a single shot.
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While a slight improvement over 2023, when the United Nations said there were 14.5 million zero-dose children, it was 1.4 million more than in 2019 -- before the Covid pandemic wreaked havoc on global vaccination programs.
While a slight improvement over 2023, when the United Nations said there were 14.5 million zero-dose children, it was 1.4 million more than in 2019 -- before the Covid pandemic wreaked havoc on global vaccination programs.
"The good news is that we have managed to reach more children with life-saving vaccines," UNICEF chief Catherine Russell said in a joint statement.
"The good news is that we have managed to reach more children with life-saving vaccines," UNICEF chief Catherine Russell said in a joint statement.
"But millions of children remain without protection against preventable diseases," she said.
"But millions of children remain without protection against preventable diseases," she said.
"That should worry us all."
"That should worry us all."
DEEPLY UNEQUAL
The World Health Organization meanwhile warned that the planet was "off track" for reaching its goal of ensuring that 90 percent of the world's children and adolescents receive essential vaccines by 2030.
The World Health Organization meanwhile warned that the planet was "off track" for reaching its goal of ensuring that 90 percent of the world's children and adolescents receive essential vaccines by 2030.
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"Drastic cuts in aid, coupled with misinformation about the safety of vaccines, threaten to unwind decades of progress," warned WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
"Drastic cuts in aid, coupled with misinformation about the safety of vaccines, threaten to unwind decades of progress," warned WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Tuesday's report cautioned that vaccine access remains deeply unequal, with widespread conflicts eroding efforts to boost vaccine coverage.
Tuesday's report cautioned that vaccine access remains deeply unequal, with widespread conflicts eroding efforts to boost vaccine coverage.
Dramatic cuts to international aid by the United States in particular, but also by other countries, could further worsen the situation.
Dramatic cuts to international aid by the United States in particular, but also by other countries, could further worsen the situation.
"Our ability to respond to outbreaks in nearly 50 countries has been disrupted due to the funding cuts," UNICEF immunization chief Ephrem Lemango told reporters.
"Our ability to respond to outbreaks in nearly 50 countries has been disrupted due to the funding cuts," UNICEF immunization chief Ephrem Lemango told reporters.
While lack of access was the main cause of low coverage globally, the agencies also highlighted the threat of misinformation.
While lack of access was the main cause of low coverage globally, the agencies also highlighted the threat of misinformation.
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DANGEROUS IMMUNITY GAPS
Dwindling trust in "hard-earned evidence around the safety of the vaccines" is contributing to dangerous immunity gaps and outbreaks, WHO vaccine chief Kate O'Brien told reporters.
Dwindling trust in "hard-earned evidence around the safety of the vaccines" is contributing to dangerous immunity gaps and outbreaks, WHO vaccine chief Kate O'Brien told reporters.
Experts have sounded the alarm in the United States especially, where Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has himself long been accused of spreading vaccine misinformation, including about the measles vaccine, even as the US grapples with its worst measles epidemic in 30 years.
Experts have sounded the alarm in the United States especially, where Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has himself long been accused of spreading vaccine misinformation, including about the measles vaccine, even as the US grapples with its worst measles epidemic in 30 years.
Last year, 60 countries experienced large and disruptive outbreaks of the highly contagious disease, nearly doubling from 33 in 2022, the report showed.
Last year, 60 countries experienced large and disruptive outbreaks of the highly contagious disease, nearly doubling from 33 in 2022, the report showed.
An estimated two million more children worldwide were vaccinated against measles in 2024 than the year before, but the global coverage rate remained far below the 95 percent needed to avert its spread.
An estimated two million more children worldwide were vaccinated against measles in 2024 than the year before, but the global coverage rate remained far below the 95 percent needed to avert its spread.
On a positive note, Tuesday's report showed that vaccine coverage against a range of diseases had inched up last year in the 57 low-income countries supported by the vaccine alliance Gavi.
On a positive note, Tuesday's report showed that vaccine coverage against a range of diseases had inched up last year in the 57 low-income countries supported by the vaccine alliance Gavi.
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"In 2024, lower-income countries protected more children than ever before," Gavi chief Sania Nishtar said.
"In 2024, lower-income countries protected more children than ever before," Gavi chief Sania Nishtar said.
But the data also indicated "signs of slippage" emerging in upper-middle and high-income countries where coverage had previously been at least 90 percent.
But the data also indicated "signs of slippage" emerging in upper-middle and high-income countries where coverage had previously been at least 90 percent.
"Even the smallest drops in immunization coverage can have devastating consequences," O'Brien said.
"Even the smallest drops in immunization coverage can have devastating consequences," O'Brien said.
—By Nina Larson, Agence France-Presse
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